Meds wrote:Did you really just call the Liberal Party run CBC an accurate reporting news broadcaster?

As for hockey.....

CBC HNiC is even more heavily Toronto biased than TSN is. We were still hearing about Phil Kessel while Boston was sweeping Pittsburgh in the conference finals last year.....this a full two rounds after the Leafs had been eliminated in a choke job that not even the Canucks can match.

No, I didn't. What I said was, the CBC can run news that isn't necessarily designed to generate revenue. Which can be a reasonable balance to the far-right Sun, Global and right CTV.

The CBC has its own problems, but the lose of a public broadcaster is bad news for any fair-minded citizen of a democracy and supporter of a free and independent press. Unless you think news is just a commodity designed to generate profit.

And the only reason that is relevant is because the CBC is highly dependent on the profitable HNIC property. Which I suppose shall continue, but likely won't generate nearly as much for CBC with SN running the show.

1) HNIC still gets it's iconic Saturday night game. Albeit with no control over what teams they get and expectations are that SN will keep all Leaf games. This allows HNIC to continue to broadcast games while minimizing tax payers costs the keep the show going. It will also result in job loss but not as much had the been shut out. If Rogers had problems with BB wonder how they feel about Cherry?

2) TSN also loses the rights to the draft so no live coverage for them.

3) TSN will undoubtably now have to cut a number of employees. Hopefully the good ones get snapped up by SN.

4) hopefully SN will continue to broadcast regionally all Canadian games for all Canadian teams. Since the deal also includes control over Centre Ice and all mediums could we see the coming of more PPV type situations? They get three exclusive broadcast nights per week for national broadcasts. But regionally theyvstill control the rest.

Mondi wrote:This sort of thing troubles me for many reasons, but the main reason is the vertical integration run amok in the media and entertainment industry.

If my understanding is correct, Rogers now owns

(1) The Network (Rogers Sportsnet and the Score)(2) The Infrastructure (Wires, Towers and Satellites)(3) The Broadcast Property and the on-air talent (HNIC and Sportsnet Canucks...etc.)(4) The Team (Leafs)

In a lot of ways that is a monopoly, cartel, or whatever you want to call it. Good luck finding balanced coverage, or criticism of the Leafs. Even if this whole thing were somehow corruption and bias free, the appearance of bias is automatic.

And, its another nail in the coffin of CBC. Whether the right-wing profits-before-people sector of this world understands it or not, there is great value in having a news-media outlet in the country that is not beholden to a corporate board of directors and shareholders whose only requirement is profit. Sometimes accurate reporting is contingent on not seeking out the best selling story. In a lot of ways, that is now impossible when it comes to hockey coverage.

Good points but not only that, its going to cost more to watch games from now on as they can charge whatever the fuck they like... And yes news and media has been bullshit for a long while and only continues to get worse. There is no point at all in buying a newspaper (asswipe is so much softer) or catching a news broadcast on any platform any more and hasn't been for a long time... if ever....

Mondi wrote:This sort of thing troubles me for many reasons, but the main reason is the vertical integration run amok in the media and entertainment industry.

If my understanding is correct, Rogers now owns

(1) The Network (Rogers Sportsnet and the Score)(2) The Infrastructure (Wires, Towers and Satellites)(3) The Broadcast Property and the on-air talent (HNIC and Sportsnet Canucks...etc.)(4) The Team (Leafs)

In a lot of ways that is a monopoly, cartel, or whatever you want to call it. Good luck finding balanced coverage, or criticism of the Leafs. Even if this whole thing were somehow corruption and bias free, the appearance of bias is automatic.

And, its another nail in the coffin of CBC. Whether the right-wing profits-before-people sector of this world understands it or not, there is great value in having a news-media outlet in the country that is not behold to a corporate board of directors and shareholders whose only requirement is profit. Sometimes accurate reporting is contingent on not seeking out the best selling story. In a lot of ways, that is now impossible when it comes to hockey coverage.

Did you really just call the Liberal Party run CBC an accurate reporting news broadcaster?

As for hockey.....

CBC HNiC is even more heavily Toronto biased than TSN is. We were still hearing about Phil Kessel while Boston was sweeping Pittsburgh in the conference finals last year.....this a full two rounds after the Leafs had been eliminated in a choke job that not even the Canucks can match.

ukcanuck wrote:Good points but not only that, its going to cost more to watch games from now on as they can charge whatever the fuck they like...

This is where I'd like to see further details on things. It's being said that there will be no more regional restrictions, but will this mean the return of PPV games? Will you now have to pay for a special package to get Sportsnet if you're not with Rogers?

I'm not totally ready to pan this deal from a viewer's PoV. If I can get Canucks games in HD from my home in Ontario through Shaw without having to order NHL Centre Ice, then I am one happy viewer. With this virtual monopoly on Canadian games, though, colour me a bit skeptical.

ukcanuck wrote:Good points but not only that, its going to cost more to watch games from now on as they can charge whatever the fuck they like...

This is where I'd like to see further details on things. It's being said that there will be no more regional restrictions, but will this mean the return of PPV games? Will you now have to pay for a special package to get Sportsnet if you're not with Rogers?

I'm not totally ready to pan this deal from a viewer's PoV. If I can get Canucks games in HD from my home in Ontario through Shaw without having to order NHL Centre Ice, then I am one happy viewer. With this virtual monopoly on Canadian games, though, colour me a bit skeptical.

Maybe there was a time once in band camp when a monopoly was good for consumers but I can't name one...

From an internet user point of view ...live streaming is getting better

Because the only way for me to watch the 50 or so Canuck games on SNPac is to buy GameCentre for 200+ per season. Its not a big deal (cheap per game). I am optimistic it will make Vancouver games more accessible, without having to buy the equivalent of another HBO.

Because the only way for me to watch the 50 or so Canuck games on SNPac is to buy GameCentre for 200+ per season. Its not a big deal (cheap per game). I am optimistic it will make Vancouver games more accessible, without having to buy the equivalent of another HBO.

SportsNet has been given control of Centre Ice and GameCentre in this deal. I don't see your situation improving.